Football passing toy



Sept. 20, 1966 H. F. BERRY 3,273,282

FOOTBALL PASSING TOY Filed Aug. 17. 1964 an x INVENTOR. #42040 I 5029/'47 roewrr United States Patent 3,273,282 FOOTBALL PASSING TOY Harold F.Berry, 17448 Hemmingway St., Northridge, Calif. Filed Aug. 17, 1964,Ser. No. 390,120 12 Claims. (Cl. 46-241) This invention relatesgenerally to toys and particularly to a novel spring action toy whichsimulates a football center player passing a football to a backfieldplayer.

Among the types of toys which most intrigue children over a wide rangeof ages are action toys, that is toys which a child may manipulate insome fashion to produce a particular movement or action in the toy.Particularly intriguing are those toys of this type which simulate someaction performed by an adult. For example, a toy action simulating aperson engaged in some sport is highly fascinating .to many children. Inaddition to their amusement value, action toys of this character oftenpossess educational benefits for the child and tend to improve hisdexterity and coordination.

A general object of this invention is to provide a novel action toy ofthe class described.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide an action toywhich simulates a football center player passing a football to abackfield player.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simulated footballpassing toy of the character described which is uniquely constructed toprovide certain realistic body movements of the simulated footballcenter player.

Yet a further object of the invention is to provide a football passingtoy of the character described which is adjustable to alter thetrajectory of the simulated football.

Other objects of the invention are concerned with providing a toy of thecharacter described which is relatively simple in construction,economical to manufacture, rugged, easyto use, and otherwise ideallysuited to its intended purposes.

With the foregoing objects in view, together with such additionalobjects and advantages as may subsequently appear, the invention residesin the parts, and in the construction, combination and arrangement ofparts described, by way of example, in the following specification of apresently preferred embodiment of the invention, reference being had to.the accompanying drawings which from a part of said specification andin which drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present toy;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged rear elevation, partially sectioned, of the actionfigure embodied in the toy of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view of the under side of the toy in FIG. 1;and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of certain operating mechanism ofthe toy in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 1, the present spring action toy comprises asupporting base 12 simulating a portion of a football field. Mounted onthe supporting base, adjacent one edge thereof, is an action figure 14simulating a football center player in the crouching position normallyoccupied by such a player when he is about to pass a football rearwardlybetween his legs to a backfield player.

As shown best in FIGS. 2 and 3, the action figure -14 comprises a body16 which may be formed of molded plastic, for example. This body is ahollow shell including a generally horizontal torso portion 18simulating the crouched torso of a football center player and sidemembers 20 extending downwardly from the side walls 21 of the torsoportion 18 to simulate the legs of the player. Legs 20 are secured tothe supporting base 12 in any convenient way, such as by fastening means22.

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Extending from the forward end of the torso portion 18 is a simulatedhead 24. For reasons which will appear presently, the supporting base 12has a notch 26 in the region directly below the body 16.

Extending horizontally across the inside of the torso portion 18 ofaction figure 14, adjacent the forward or shoulder end of the torsoportion, is a shaft 28. The ends of the shaft fit within inwardlyopening bores in the downwardly directed side walls 21 of the torsoportion. Preferably, these bores do notextend completely through thethickness of the side walls 21, so that the ends of the shaft and thebores will be hidden from view when the body is view from the outside.The shaft 28 is restrained against rotation relative to the body 16 inany convenient way, such as by a crosspin 3t) fitted in aligned bores inthe shaft and body. Rotatably mounted on the shaft 28, for fore and aftswinging movement relative to the body '16, is a cradle structure 32which is intended to simulate the arms and hands of a football centerplayer. To this end, the structure 32 could conceivably be shaped in themanner of a football players arms and hands. For convenience, however,the cradle structure 32 has been illustrated as comprising a simplemetal form which may be fabricated from sheet metal, for example,including a pair of arms 34 integrally joined at one end by a generallysemicylindrical cradle 36. Arms 34 diverge toward their outerextremities and are apertured at these extremities to rotatably receivethe shaft 28. The cradle structure 62, is thus rotatable on the shaft 28in a fore and aft direction relative to the body 16 of the action figure-14. Encircling the shaft 28 between the arms 34 is a coil spring 38.One end of the spring is fixed to one arm 34 of the structure 32 at aposition laterally offset from the rotation axis of the structure, as byengaging in a bore in the arm. The other end 42 of the spring 38 isfixed in a radial bore in the shaft 28. It is apparent, therefore, thatthe spring 38 acts as a torsion spring which urges the cradle structure32 in a rearward direction of rotation relative to the body 16.

Fixed in the forward end of the semicylindrical cradle 36 is a shouldermember or pin 44. The lower end of this pin, as the latter is viewed inFIG. 4, extends below the cradle 36 for engagement with a transverse arm48 on one extremity of an actuating rod 50. Actuating rod 50 issupported, by brackets 52 and 54 fixed to the other side of the base 12,for axial movement .in the endwise direction of the base and rotation ofthe rod about its longitudinal axis. The rod is rotatable between theextended position of FIG. 4, wherein the transverse arm 48 on the rod isdisposed in the path of swinging movement of the cradle pin 44, and aretracted position, wherein the arm 48 is disposed out of the path ofswinging movement of the cradle pin. The rear end of the actuating rodextends a distance beyond the rear edge of the supporting base 12 andmounts a handle 56 which is adapted to be grasped with the fingers.

Also mounted on the under side of the supporting base 12 is anadjustable stop 58. This stop comprises a generally L-shaped rod, onearm 60 of which is slidably and rotatably supported in the bracket 54for rotation and axial movement on an axis parallel to the actuating rod50. Fixed to the forward end of the arm 60, forwardly of the bracket 54,is a disk-like stop shoulder 62. Shoulder 62 is disposed for engagementby the cradle pin 44 to limit rearward swinging of the cradle structure32. As may be best observed in FIG. 2, the stop shoulder 62 projectsupwardly through the notch 26 in the supporting base 12. Stop 58includes a right angle arm 64 which extends laterally toward one sideedge of the supporting base 12 into a notch 66 cut into a supportingrail 68 mounted along the underside of the base. A similar rail 70' ismounted along the opposite edge of the supporting base. The outerextremity of the stop arm 64 is bent upwardly to provide a finger grip72 which projects somewhat above the upper surface of the supportingbase 12, through a notch 74 in the adjacent side edge of the base. Fixedto the inner surface of the rail 68, and extending across the rail notch66, is an indexing bar 76 having a series of upwardly opening slots 78in its upper edge for selectively receiving the stop arm 64. It isapparent that the axial position of the stop shoulder 62 may 'beadjusted, in the fore and aft direction of the supporting base 12, byrotating the stop arm 64 upwardly to disengage the arm from the slot 78in which it is currently positioned, axially moving the stop 58 to alignthe stop arm 64 with another slot 78, and then rotating the arm 64downwardly into the aligned slot.

Cradle 36 of the rotary cradle structure 32 is adapted to hold a member80 simulating a football. Ball 80 is releasably retained in the cradle36 by the magnetic attraction between a permanent magnet 82 axiallymounted within the ball and a magnetically permeable disk 84 fixed tothe upper end of the cradle pin 44.

In operation of the toy, the ball 80 is positioned in the cradle 36. Theactuating rod 50 is then rotated to its retracted position and moved.rearwardly to a position wherein the transverse arm 48 on the rod isdisposed to the rear of the cradle pin 44. Thereafter, the rod isrotated to its extended position and pushed forwardly. During thisforward movement of the actuating rod, the rod arm 48 engages the cradlepin 44 to rotate the cradle structure 32 forwardly relative to theaction figure 14. During this forward rotation of the cradle structure,the spring 38 is tensioned, thereby creating a spring force on thecradle structure 32 tending to rotate the latter to the rear. The cradlestructure is released for such rearward rotation by rotating theactuating rod 50 to its retracted position. When the cradle structure 32swings to the rear under the action of the spring 38, the cradle pin 44eventually engages the stop shoulder 62, thereby abruptly arresting therearward movement of the structure. At this point, the momentum acquiredby the ball 80 during the rearward swing of the structure causes theball to be hurled rearwardly from the action figure 14 in a mannersimulating a football center passing a football to a backfield player.Adjustment of the stop 58 in the manner explained earlier is effectiveto alter the angle of the cradle structure 32 when the cradle pin 44engages the stop shoulder 62. This, in turn, alters the trajectoryfollowed by the ball 80 when the latter is hurled rearwardly from thecradle structure. For example, forward adjustment of the stop 58 causesthe ball 80 to follow a relatively low fiat trajectory. Rearwardadjustment of the stop, on the other hand, causes the ball 80 to followa higher, arching trajectory.

While in the foregoing specification there has been disclosed apresently preferred embodiment of the invention, the invention is not tobe deemed to be limited to the precise details of construction thusdisclosed by way of example and it will be understood that the inventionincludes as well all such changes and modifications in the parts and inthe construction, combination and arrangement of parts as shall comewithin the purview of the appended. claims.

I claim:

1. In a toy to be used in conjunction with a member simulating a ball,the combination comprising:

a supporting base, I

an action figure mounted on said base including a simulated human bodywith arm means mounted for movement in the fore and aft direction of thebody, and a spring operatively connected between said body and arm meansfor urging said arm means in one of said directions relative to thebody,

stop means on said base independent of both the spring and the actuatingmeans for abruptly arresting movement of said arm means in the directionof movement derived from said spring,

manually operated actuating means on said base releasably engageablewith said arm means operable both to urge said arm means in thedirection opposing the bias of said spring and to release said arm meansto the bias of said spring whereby the latter is propelled in said onedirection by said spring, and

means on said arm means for releasably holding said simulated ballmember in such manner that the latter is hurled in said one directionfrom the arm means when spring induced movement of the arm means in saidlatter direction is arrested by said stop means,

' thereby to simulate a person throwing a ball.

2. In a toy to be used in conjunction with a member simulating a ball,the combination comprising:

a supporting base,

an action figure mounted on said base including a simulated human bodywith arm means mounted for swinging movement in the fore and aftdirection of the body, and a spring operatively connected between saidbody and arm means biased to urge said arm means in one of saiddirections relative to the body;

actuating means on said base releasably engageable with said arm'meansmanually operable both to rotate said arm means for rotating the latterin the direction relative to said body opposing the bias of said springand to release the arm means to the bias of said spring, for propulsionof said arm means in said one direction by said spring,

' stop means on said base independent of both said spring and saidactuating means engageable by said arm means during swinging movement ofthe latter in said one direction, thereby to arrest movement of the armmeans in said latter direction, and means on said arm means forreleasably holding said simulated ball member in such manner that thelatter is hurled in said one direction from the arm means when swingingmovement of the arm means in said one direction is arrested by said stopmeans, thereby to simulate a person throwing a ball.

3. The subject matter of claim 2 including:

means for adjusting said stop means, thereby to alter the trajectoryfollowed by said ball member after the latter leaves said action figure.

4. In a toy to be used in conjunction with a member simulating afootball, the combination comprising: a supporting base,

an action figure mounted on said base simulating a football centerplayer in crouching position and including a generally horizontal torsoportion and spaced legs extending downwardly from the rear of said torsoportion to said base, a cradle structure pivotally mounted on the underside of said torso portion for swinging movement in a fore and aftdirection of said figure to simulate arms, and a spring operativelyconnected bet-ween said torso portion and cradle structure biased tourge said cradle structure in the rearward direction of rotation,

actuating means on said base releasably engageable with said cradlestructure manually operable to urge said cradle structure in thedirection of rotation thereof opposing the bias of said spring and torelease said cradle structure to the bias of said spring for.

propulsion thereof in a rearward direction of rotation by said spring,

stop means on said base independent of both said spring and saidactuating means for abruptly arresting movement of said arms in saidrearward direction of rotation, and

means on said cradle structure for releasably holding said simulatedball member in a plane passing between said legs and in such manner thatsaid ball member is hurled rearwardly from said arms between said legswhen movement of the cradle structure in said rearward direction ofrotation is arrested by said stop means, thereby to simulate a footballcenter player passing a football to a backfield player.

5. The subject matter of claim 4 including:

means for adjusting said stop means, thereby to alter trajectoryfollowed by said simulated ball member after the latter leaves saidcradle structure.

6. In a toy to be used in conjunction with a member simulating afootball, the combination comprising:

a supporting base,

an action figure mounted on said base simulating a football centerplayer in crouching position and including a generally horizontal torsoportion and spaced legs extending downwardly from the rear of said torsoportion to said base, a cradle structure rotatably mounted on the underside of said torso portion for fore and aft swinging movement tosimulate arms, and a spring operatively connected between said torsoportion and said cradle structure biased to urge said cradle structurein the rearward direction of rotation relative to said torso portion,

a manually operable actuating rod including a transverse arm,

means mounting said actuating rod on said base for axial movement of therod in said fore and aft direction relative to said action figurebetween an extended position wherein said arm is disposed to engage saidcradle structure for rotating said cradle structure forwardly to aninfinitely variable extent against the bias of said spring by axialmovement of said rod in one direction, said mounting means for said rodadditionally permitting limited manual rotation of said rod between aposit-ion of initial engagement with said cradle structure and aretracted position, wherein said arm releases said cradle structure forrearward swinging movement under the action of said p stop means on saidbase for abruptly arresting swinging movement of said cradle structurein said rearward direction of rotation, and

means on said cradle structure for releasably holding said simulatedfootball member in a plane passing between said legs and in such mannerthat said simulated football member is hurled rearwardly from saidcradle structure between said legs when rearward swinging movement ofsaid structure is arrested by said stop means, thereby to simulate afootball center player passing a football to a backfield player.

7. In a toy to be used in conjunction with a member simulating afootball, the combination comprising:

a supporting base,

an action figure mounted on said base simulating a football centerplayer in crouching position and including a generally horizontal torsoportion with side walls and spaced legs extending downwardly from saidside walls at the rear of said torso portion to said base, a shaftextending between said side walls normal to a fore and aft plane passingbetween said legs and fixedly mounted at its ends in said side walls, acradle structure including arms pivotally mounted at one extremity onsaid shaft and connected at the other extremity by a cradle, and aspring operatively connected between said shaft and one of said armsconstantly operative to urge said cradle structure in a rearwarddirection of rotation,

actuating means on said base releasably engageable with said cradlestructure manually operable to rotate said cradle structure in a forwarddirection of rotation against the bias of said spring and to releasesaid cradle structure to the bias of said spring for propulsion thereofin the rearward direction of rotation by said spring,

stop means on said base independent both of said spring and saidactuating means for abruptly arresting rearward rotation of said cradlestructure under the bias of said spring, and

means on said cradle structure for releasably holding said simulatedfootball member in such manner that the latter is hurled rearwardly fromsaid cradle when rearward swinging movement of said. cradle structure isarrested by said stop means, thereby to simulate a football centerplayer passing a football to a backfield player.

8. A toy comprising in combination:

a supporting base,

an action figure mounted on said base including a simulated human bodywith arm means mounted for movement in the fore and aft direction of thebody, and a spring operatively connected between said body and arm meansconstantly operative to urge said arm means in one of said directionsrelative to the body,

actuating means on said base releasably engageable with said arm meansboth to move said arm means in the direction opposing the bias of saidspring and to release said arm means to the bias of said spring forpropulsion thereof in said one direction by said spring,

stop means for abruptly arresting movement of said arm means in said onedirection,

a member simulating a ball, and

means on said arm means for releasably holding said simulated ballmember in such manner that the latter is hurled from said arm means whenmovement of the arm means in said one direction is arrested by said stopmeans, thereby to simulate a person throwing a ball.

9. The subject matter of claim 8 wherein:

said means for releasably holding said ball member comprises cooperatingmagnetic means on said simulated ball member and said arm means.

10. A toy comprising:

a supporting base,

an action figure mounted on said base simulating a football centerplayer in crouching position and including a generally horizontal torsoportion and spaced legs extending downwardly from the rear of said torsoportion to said base, a cradle structure pivotally mounted on the underside of said torso portion for swinging movement in the fore and aftdirection of said figure to simulate arms, and a spring operativelyconnected between said torso portion and said cradle structureconstantly operative to urge said cradle structure in the rearwarddirection of rotation,

actuating means on said base releasably engageable with said cradlestructure manually operable both to move said cradle structure in thedirection of rotation thereof opposing the bias of said spring and torelease said cradle structure to the bias of said spring for propulsionthereof in the rearward direction of rotation by said spring,

stopmeans for abruptly arresting movement of said arms in said rearwarddirection of rotation,

a member simulating a football, and

means on said cradle structure for releasably holding said simulatedball member in a fore and aft plane passing between said legs and insuch manner that said simulated football member is hurled rearwardlyfrom said cradle structure between said legs when rearward swingingmovement of said cradle structure is arrested by said stop means,thereby to simulate a football center player passing a football to abackfield player.

11. The subject matter of claim 10 wherein:

said last mentioned means comprises coacting magnetic means on saidsimulated football member and said cradle structure.

12. A toy comprising in combination:

a supporting base,

an action figure mounted on said base simulating a football centerplayer in crouching position and including a generally horizontal torsoportion with depending side walls and spaced legs extending downwardlyfirom said side walls at the rear of said torso portion to said base, ashaft extending between said side walls normal to a fore and aft planepassing midway between said legs and fixedly mounted at its ends in saidside walls, a cradle structure including a pair of arms pivotallymounted at their upper extremities on said shaft and connected at theirlower extremities by a cradle disposed in said plane, a shoulder memberdepending below said cradle, and a torsion spring operatively connectedbetween said shaft and one of said arms for urging said cradle structurein the rearward direction of rotation, an actuating rod having atransverse arm at one end,

I means mounting said actuating rod on the other side of said supportingbase at the rear of said action figure for axial movement in the foreand aft direction of said figure and rotation of said rod about itslongitudinal axis between an extended position wherein said actuatingrod arm is disposed to engage said shoulder member for rotating saidcradle structure forwardly against the action of said spring uponforward axial movement of said rod, and a retracted position whereinsaid actuating rod arm is disposed out of the path of swinging movementof said shoulder member, thereby to release said cradle structure forrearward swinging movement under the action of said spring,

a stop member mounted on the under side ofsaid base in a position toengage said shoulder member during rearward swinging movement of saidcradle structure, thereby to arrest said latter movement of said cradlestructure,

means accessible from the upper side of said base for adjusting saidstop in the fore and aft direction of said action figure,

a member simulating a football, and

means on said cradle for releasably holding said simu lated footballmember in such manner that the latter is hurled from said cradle whenrearward swinging movement of said cradle structure is arrested by saidstop, thereby to simulate a football center player passing a football toa backfield player.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,627,260 2/1953Zimmerman. 2,767,985 10/1956 Maxcey et al. 124-7 X FOREIGN PATENTS 309,943 12/ 5 Switzerland.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

L. J. BOVASSO, Assistant Examiner.

8. A TOY COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: A SUPPORTING BASE, AN ACTION FIGUREMOUNTED ON SAID BASE INCLUDING A SIMULATED HUMAN BODY WITH ARM MEANSMOUNTED FOR MOVEMENT IN THE FORE AND AFT DIRECTION OF THE BODY, AND ASPRING OPERATIVELY CONNECTED BETWEEN SAID BODY AND ARM MEANS CONSTANTLYOPERATIVE TO URGE SAID ARM MEANS IN ONE OF SAID DIRECTIONS RELATIVE TOTHE BODY, ACTUATING MEANS ON SAID BASE RELEASABLY ENGAGEABLE WITH SAIDARM MEANS BOTH TO MOVE SAID ARM MEANS IN THE DIRECTION OPPOSING THE BIASOF SAID SPRING AND TO RELEASE SAID ARM MEANS TO THE BIAS OF SAID SPRINGFOR PROPULSION THEREOF IN SAID ONE DIRECTION BY SAID SPRING, STOP MEANSFOR ABRUPTLY ARRESTING MOVEMENT OF SAID ARM MEANS IN SAID ONE DIRECTION,A MEMBER SIMULATING A BALL, AND